And while these might not jump off the page -- Kafka is the third quarterback on the roster after Pat Devlin's Thursday release -- the event is proving to be an effective vehicle for teams to fill out their rosters.

In the end, isn't that what the 100-plus players flying there wanted in the first place?

Adam Carriker, another combine participant, talked about how unpredictable a player's disappearance is. One moment, teams simply stop calling. Invites dry up. A new wave of players consumes the attention of scouts and general managers.

For at least a few players now, that dreaded moment can be staved off for another few months.